“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:27-28).
Jesus proclaims…
Jesus declares…
Jesus teaches…
Jesus announces…
Yup. That’s in the gospels. That’s in the Bible.
Jesus invites us to receive him as Lord…
Nope. Not once in the Bible.
R. C. Sproul wrote, “God doesn’t invite people to come to Jesus. He commands it with divine authority and convicts you of treason on a cosmic level if you refuse.”
Wowsers!
The language of invitation is so much more friendly, it’s nicer. But it’s misleading. Invitations can be perceived as I can take it or leave it.
But, that’s not the case with Jesus. Jesus ushers in the Kingdom of God and proclaims that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus proclaims, declares, teaches, and announces the pathway to God’s Kingdom. Should we reject, what awaits those who have rejected Jesus is judgment.
R. C. Sproul is correct. When the time of judgment comes, it will have nothing to do with having done more good things vs. bad things. It will have nothing to do with how nice we were. It will have everything to do with what we did with the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed.
Jesus loves you. Jesus died for you. Jesus rose again from the dead for you. Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Live as Kingdom people.
Praxis: Faith in Action 